And all day long shall thine unbidden guest
Sit at thy table, feasting on thy liver
Till he hath gnawn it black. Look for no term
To such an agony till there stand forth
Among the Gods one who shall take upon him
Thy sufferings and consent to enter hell
Far from the light of Sun, yea, the deep pit
And mirk of Tartarus, for thee. Be advised;
This is no stuffed speech framed to frighten thee
But woeful truth. For Zeus knows not to lie
And every word of his shall be fulfilled.
Look sharply to thyself then: weigh my words
And do not in thy folly think self-will
Better than prudent counsel.
Chorus.
To our mind
The words of Hermes fail not of the mark.
For he enjoins thee to let self-will go
And follow after prudent counsels. Him
Harken; for error in the wise is shame.
Prometheus.
These are stale tidings I foreknew;
Therefore, since suffering is the due
A foe must pay his foes,
Let curléd lightnings clasp and clash
And close upon my limbs: loud crash
The thunder, and fierce throes
Of savage winds convulse calm air:
The embowelled blast earth's roots uptear
And toss beyond its bars ,
The rough surge, till the roaring deep
In one devouring deluge sweep
The pathway of the stars!
